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[Review] Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8: Affordable Gaming Beast


The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 is a gaming laptop that offers impressive performance at an affordable price. Powered by the Intel Core i5-12500H processor and equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, this laptop is designed to deliver immersive gaming experiences. It features a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a high refresh rate of 144Hz, ensuring smooth and fluid visuals during gameplay. With 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB Gen 4 SSD, the Nitro 5 provides ample memory and storage for multitasking and fast loading times.

In this review, we will explore everything there is to know about the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8, to evaluate its performance capabilities, delve into the potential of its graphics card, discuss user feedback, highlight the special features included, and figure out if this is the best option for you or if you should keep searching for an alternative.

Who's this laptop for?

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 is an affordable gaming laptop designed for budget-conscious gamers and power-hungry users. With its Intel Core i5-12500H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, it offers solid gaming performance at a reasonable price.

The 15.6-inch Full HD display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate enhances the gaming experience, while the ample RAM and storage make it suitable for multitasking and demanding tasks. Whether you're a gamer on a budget or a user in need of a capable all-around machine, the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 delivers reliable performance at an affordable price point.

Design, Display, and Keyboard

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 boasts a stylish design that is characteristic of a gaming laptop. The black color scheme with red accents gives it a modern and aggressive look. The laptop has a sturdy build quality, thanks to its refined chassis. It measures 14.19 inches in width, 10.67 inches in depth, and 1.06 inches in height, making it relatively compact for a gaming laptop. However, it weighs 5.51 pounds, which is slightly on the heavier side compared to some ultraportable laptops.

The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display is one of the standout features of the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, it delivers sharp and vibrant visuals. The IPS technology ensures wide viewing angles, allowing you to enjoy the same quality from different positions. The display also has a lightning-quick 144Hz refresh rate, which is perfect for fast-paced gaming. It minimizes motion blur and provides a smoother gaming experience.

The keyboard on the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 is backlit, allowing you to type comfortably even in low-light environments. The red backlighting adds to the overall gaming aesthetic of the laptop. The keys are well-spaced and have a good amount of travel, providing a satisfying typing experience as multiple customers have confirmed. The WASD keys are highlighted, which is a nice touch for gamers who rely on those keys for movement in games. Overall, the design, display, and keyboard of the AN515-58-57Y8 contribute to an enjoyable gaming and computing experience.

Performance

The Acer Nitro 5 in question is equipped with the Intel Core i5-12500H processor, which belongs to the 12th Generation of Intel's processors. This CPU features six cores and twelve threads, providing ample processing power for both gaming and productivity tasks. With a base clock speed of 3.3 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.5 GHz, the i5-12500H can handle demanding applications and multitasking with ease.

To complement the powerful processor, the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM. This generous amount of memory ensures smooth multitasking and enables you to run multiple applications simultaneously without experiencing performance slowdowns. 

Having said that, it should be noted that, as with most gaming laptops, you can upgrade the RAM if you find it necessary to help you give it a little boost in performance.

In this particular case, you can go all the way up to 64 GB of capacity. We've compiled a little tutorial for the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 RAM upgrade step-by-step that's very easy to follow even if you're not the most tech-savvy person in the neighborhood. 

The laptop also features a 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, offering fast storage and quick boot times. The SSD contributes to snappy system responsiveness and reduces game loading times, allowing you to jump into your gaming sessions quickly.

Overall, the combination of the Intel Core i5-12500H processor, 16GB of RAM, and the fast Gen 4 SSD makes the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 a capable machine for both gaming and everyday computing tasks. Whether you're gaming, streaming, editing videos, or working with demanding software, this laptop has the performance to handle it all.

Graphics Card

The AN515-58-57Y8 is equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. This graphics card is based on NVIDIA's latest Ampere architecture and brings ray tracing, tensor cores, and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) to the table. With 4GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, the RTX 3050 Ti delivers impressive gaming performance for a laptop in its price range.


The inclusion of ray tracing technology allows for more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in games that support this feature. It enhances visual fidelity and immersion, making games look more lifelike. The tensor cores enable AI-powered features, such as DLSS, which can boost performance and maintain image quality in supported games.

Finally, the RTX 3050 Ti is capable of running modern AAA games at 1080p resolution with good frame rates and graphical settings. Esports titles and less demanding games can be played at even higher frame rates, taking full advantage of the AN515-58-57Y8's 144Hz display. With the combination of the Intel Core i5-12500H processor and the RTX 3050 Ti, this laptop is well-equipped for gaming and provides an enjoyable gaming experience.

What Are Customers Saying?

Customer reviews provide valuable insights into the real-world performance and user experience of a product. Much like the recently covered Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-525P several users have praised the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 for its performance and value for money

One user mentioned that they upgraded the RAM and added another M.2 drive, improving the laptop's capabilities even further. They found the NitroSense feature useful for controlling fan speeds. However, they expressed some concerns about the Killer Wi-Fi, which seemed to interfere with background processes while streaming videos.

Another customer highlighted the excellent price-to-performance ratio of the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8. They were impressed with the performance and battery life, stating that it met their needs as both a programmer and a video game enthusiast. They highly recommended the laptop, especially considering its unbeatable price.

There were also positive reviews from users who purchased the laptop for gaming purposes. One user praised the laptop's performance and mentioned that they made some modifications to enhance its capabilities. They found the fan better than their bedroom fan and expressed confidence that the laptop would last for years to come. Another user, a parent who bought the laptop for their teenage son, described it as a "beast" and highlighted its ability to handle gaming, college work, and multimedia tasks.

However, not all reviews were entirely positive. One user mentioned that the battery life was subpar, lasting only an hour while unplugged with the lid closed. They also felt that the gaming performance was on par with a regular laptop, leading them to believe that the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 was overpriced for what it offered. This was an isolated review.

Overall, the user feedback indicates that the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 is well-received by customers, with many praising its performance and affordability. However, there are some concerns about battery life and the value for money proposition, which are important aspects to consider.

Connectivity and Battery Life

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 offers a range of connectivity options to ensure compatibility with various devices and peripherals. It features a

USB Type-C port with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, which provides fast data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps. The USB Type-C port also supports DisplayPort over USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to connect to external displays or charge compatible devices.

In addition to the USB Type-C port, the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port totaling three USB Type-A ports and a single USB Type-C port, providing ample connectivity options for your accessories and peripherals. The laptop also features an HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP support, allowing you to connect to external monitors or TVs for an expanded viewing experience.

When it comes to wireless connectivity, the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 features Killer Ethernet E2600 and Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650. These networking technologies prioritize gaming traffic, reducing latency and ensuring a smooth online gaming experience. The Wi-Fi 6 standard offers faster wireless speeds and improved stability compared to previous generations.

As for battery life, there are mixed reports from users. Some have mentioned that the battery life is satisfactory, allowing them to use the laptop for several hours without needing to plug it in. However, others have expressed disappointment, stating that the battery drains quickly, especially under heavy usage or while gaming. It's worth noting that gaming laptops typically have shorter battery life due to the high-performance components and power-hungry graphics.

Special Features

The gaming laptop at hand comes with several special features that enhance the overall gaming and user experience. One notable feature is the dual-fan cooling system. The newly refined chassis incorporates dual intakes at the top and bottom, along with a quad-exhaust port design, to ensure efficient heat dissipation. This cooling solution helps to prevent thermal throttling and maintain optimal performance during intense gaming sessions.

Another special feature is the NitroSense software, which allows you to monitor and control various aspects of the laptop's performance. With NitroSense, you can adjust fan speeds, monitor system temperatures, and customize keyboard lighting effects. This software provides an intuitive interface for optimizing the laptop's performance based on your preferences and gaming needs.

Wrapping things up: What's the Verdict? 

In conclusion, the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 reviewed today offers an impressive gaming experience at an affordable price. With its Intel Core i5-12500H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, and 16GB of RAM, this laptop delivers solid gaming performance and handles demanding tasks with ease. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate ensures smooth and fluid visuals, enhancing the gaming experience.

While there are some concerns about battery life and the value for money proposition, the overall user feedback has been positive, with many customers praising the laptop's performance and affordability. The inclusion of special features like the dual-fan cooling system, NitroSense software, and backlit keyboard adds value to the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8.

If you're a budget-conscious gamer or a user looking for a capable laptop for both gaming and everyday computing, the AN515-58-57Y8 is certainly worth considering. It strikes a good balance between price and performance, making it a solid choice for entry and mid-level gamers.